For whom will additional tests for dog owners and dogs now become a business model?
Vienna (OTS) – In a press conference today, the Green Animal Welfare Minister Rauch presented numerous changes to the Animal Welfare Act. The liberal Secretary General NAbg. Michael Schnedlitz was pleased about the preservation of working dog sports: “The months-long fight against a ban on working dog sports has paid off. Thanks to Georg Sticha, who worked tirelessly for this and, together with us, in addition to his open petition with over 43,000 supporters, he also submitted a petition to parliament ‘Preservation of international working dog sport in all its facets in Austria’. As Rauch announced today, working dog sport will be preserved – albeit with conditions – thanks to Georg Sticha, all supporters of the petition and the FPÖ.”
Schnedlitz viewed the political orchestration of the Austrian Canine Association (ÖKV) as “regrettable and not in the interest of the ÖKV members”, which “remained inactive for months and now describes the ÖVP as the great savior of working dog sport in all its publications and newsletters”. “That is shabby, because without the commitment of Georg Sticha and all the other working dog athletes, the ÖVP would have let the Greens have their way again. The fact that the ÖKV is now rolling out the red carpet for the People’s Party and is not missing any words of thanks to the actual saviors of working dog sports – namely, above all, the dog owners who have put pressure on through a petition – unfortunately shows that the ÖKV is probably more about that too “To act as a political support organization for the People’s Party and to credibly advocate for the interests of the members,” said the Freedom Party.
Schnedlitz will also take a closer look at the exact implementation of the announced additional required tests for dog owners and their dogs, because he fears “additional interests from various ÖKV officials at the expense of dog owners, ÖKV members and working dog athletes”. According to a release from the ÖKV, the details and examination regulations are developed by Dog Audit as well as experts and associations. “We are curious to see whether various self-interests will be served here and whether the redesign will even create advantages for individual officials or those around them – unmistakable dividing lines are needed here,” emphasized Schnedlitz.
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